OCHA Situation Report
Sudan Humanitarian Overview
Volume 3, Issue 1: 01 - 31 Jan 2007
22 February 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DARFUR

New population displacements were registered weekly in January as 
attacks on villages, sexual violence and intimidation continued to force 
large numbers of people to move throughout Darfur. Generalised violence, 
attacks on humanitarian assets and bureaucratic impediments continued to 
affect humanitarian operations throughout Darfur. While humanitarian 
access was regained in some long cut-off areas, key locations such as 
Gereida still remain out of bounds for most agencies. In this fluid 
context, humanitarian organizations remain on high alert to immediately 
respond to the emerging gaps.

New displacements of villagers towards IDP camps continued relentlessly 
through the month as a result of GoS/militia and SLA-MM (Minni Minawi) 
attacks - especially in North Darfur where there were reports of GoS 
aerial bombings in many locations - and attacks and intimidation by Arab 
militias. In January, an estimated 46,000 people were newly displaced 
throughout Darfur. Insecurity and displacement were compounded by a 
worrisome spread of inter-tribal conflicts in Southern and Eastern West 
Darfur.

By month's end, two-thirds of the Kass population (South Darfur) was 
made up of IDPs. New arrivals continued to stream into Kalma camp from 
Muhajiriya and other nearby areas. In As Salaam camp (North Darfur), the 
current IDP population of 44,000 surpassed camp capacity of 38,000 and 
while shortterm steps are being taken to meet the increased demands, 
humanitarian agencies were discussing with local authorities a suitable 
new site. Over 5,000 new IDPs arrived in Otash camp from Goz el Gharbi 
(Buram, South Darfur). Hundreds of new IDPs continue to stream into the 
Zalingei camps from Abaata and Jebel Marra (eastern West Darfur). In 
Gabral Ghanam (North-East of Kafod, North Darfur), an inter-agency 
assessment mission identified a caseload of 5,000 villagers who had 
dispersed into the surrounding hills after the 6-8January SLA-Minawi 
attack on their village. In Bahar Omdurma (East of Shangil Tobayi, North 
Darfur), a humanitarian mission found that the entire population of 
4,000 to 4,500 people had returned following the same series of attacks.

Humanitarian access continues to be compromised. The latest January 
humanitarian access map shows Darfur-wide access is about 64%. While 
access has improved in some areas, windows have closed again in others. 
Aid agencies are relying on a flexible quick in-and-out approach to 
service populations in many areas. (For a copy of the latest Darfur 
humanitarian access map go to:  www.unsudanig.org and click on Library - 
Map Catalogue).

On a positive note, humanitarian presence has been reestablished in 
Tawilla (North Darfur) after an absence of five months. Food 
distributions in Nertiti that had been called off in November due to 
violence were also able to go forward. The November distribution had 
been interrupted by people throwing stones and protesting the rations. 
Some NGO staff were injured, and the rubhall looted and destroyed.

Following months of negotiation, the UN finally managed to reach the 
Jebel Marra mountains and the area around Abu Sakin (North Darfur). Some 
areas in the Jebel Marra had been deprived of assistance for over a year 
and many of these people had suffered from attacks by Arab militia in 
November and early December 2006. The interagency mission estimated 
about 30,000 to 35,000 had been displaced from the attacks and were 
dispersed in the mountains.

Another positive development was that 500 MT of food were successfully 
trucked to the northern corridor in West Darfur, an area which for 
months has been the scene of wide-spread insecurity. Humanitarians have 
resumed operations in other areas such as Khor Abeche (South Darfur). 
Food distribution to the affected populations in Mellit locality (North 
Darfur) has also been successfully completed. An inter-agency mission 
was able to visit the Birmaza area (North Darfur) for the first time 
since November last year. Preparations are underway for food and NFI 
distributions.

However in Gereida, despite ongoing negotiations between the 
humanitarian community and the Minawi wing of the SLA for safe access, 
humanitarian activities have not yet resumed due to insufficient safety 
guarantees by the SLA commanders. The NGOs working in Gereida were 
forced to temporarily pull out in December after targeted attacks on 
their compounds, including the theft of cars and other assets, and the 
beating, harassment and sexual assault on aid workers. Steps are being 
taken to address the most urgent needs of the affected populations and 
the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) agreed to take over 
the food assistance, therapeutic feeding and water and sanitation 
activities in the town which has an IDP population of 130,000. Elsewhere 
in South Darfur, food distributions to areas south of the railway 
(Yassin, Dito and Morro), also to be postponed due to insecurity.

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